Battle Mosul

[VIIMares]

PHASE 1

 

Chaos.

 

Forces of the Jama'at al-Ghurabaa wal-Jihad (JGJ) consisted almost entirely of infantry, zealous men of the villages surrounding the city of Mosul and a vanguard of foreign fighters responding to Iklas' call to jihad, who were reported to steadily be trickling in. Small squads of fighters were placed within the city in the weeks after the creation of the JGJ, targeting Mosul Security Forces (MSF) and monitoring centers of the Shia community where JGJ propaganda insists opposition militias constantly lie in wait. The Ghurabaa sleeper-cells remained on standby until the assault on the city was initiated by the bulk of their forces, nearly 500 in strength. These men were poorly trained, equipped with a range of small arms and RPG's, but extremely fanatical to the cause. Looking down the barrel of a gun, it is said, the Ghurabaa only see Paradise.

 

The opening phase of the assault consisted of meticulous planning for the creation of absolute chaos amongst the forces of the city. The "wonder weapon" of the JGJ was the Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), which at the potential cost of a loyal fighter at the wheel, would wreak havoc on targeted enemy positions. Several of these car-bombs were camouflaged, lightly armored, and parked off of the roads on the outskirts of the city, while several "regular" vehicles with more rudimentary upgrades began to approach. These generally consisted of sheet metal, with ribbon cuts to resemble large rakes, attached along the sides of each vehicle in order to kick up as much dust as possible. As soon as they passed JGJ hidden positions, they quickly accelerated toward the city and broke off in all directions, making "donuts" in the sands causing a man-made dust cloud to the south-east where the Ghurabaa readied themselves to attack. 

 

4 VBIED car-bombs now drove headlong into the ancient, walled portion of the city to penetrate several areas of the city as it was assumed the main roads would be most heavily guarded by the defenders. Bewildered residents only just began to take note of the strange dust cloud from nowhere, when 3 massive explosions roared from the south of the city sending black smoke billowing into the sky. 

At the same time, a group-text message was sent out to the men leading the various sleeper-cells within the city with a simple message:

1

 

Ghurabaa infiltrators sprung into action, lobbing grenades at MSF stations and checkpoints while opening fire with automatic weapons at any Security personnel in their sight. At this time, a call was made to JGJ command from the driver of the 4th VBIED that he had slipped into traffic into the heart of the city and had not yet detonated his car. A risky move, the fighter was applauded by his commander as he was now given updated instructions to take his vehicle as far north in the city as he presumed possible and sow further confusion amongst Security Forces. This was accomplished with relative ease as the MSF were all racing to secure the south from the onslaught of JGJ jihadis now storming the blasted walls of the city. The driver was even able to park and leave his vehicle in a construction site near the north end of the city, getting himself to a safe position before he remotely detonated the VBIED.

 

All hell was now loose in Mosul. 

 

 

 

[VIIMares]

Phase 2

 

Conquest.

 

An RPG flies into an armored SWAT personnel carrier, bringing it to a sudden stop under a plume of smoke. Dozens of men of the JGJ pour through the blasted ruins of the wall, quickly overrunning the small police presence that scrambled to the area. A dazed SWAT officer raising his weapon quickly flops to the ground amid a hail of AK-47 rounds peppering a nearby patrol car he used for cover.

A JGJ fighter runs over and stands on his corpse, "By Allah's permission, we trample upon them!" 

 

...

 

Crouched amongst the rubble of the shattered Mosul walls, Abu Musa al-Quraishi, commander of the first all-Foreign Fighter elite Ghurabaa unit "Lion-1", informed his men of their objectives in the assault on the city. Under the cover of smoke and heavy fire by "green" units of the JGJ, Lion-1 blitzed toward Mosul International Airport. Quraishi himself sprinted and crouched between disabled cars, keeping pace with his men, letting off bursts of fire at passing patrol units as civilians scattering in all directions provided unconventional cover. The airport had been identified as an enemy strong point by the sleeper-cell reconnaissance days prior, and was to be isolated and captured with minimal damage to its infrastructure. The Ghurabaa high command hoped to use the airport to receive a greater influx foreign fighters in the near future. Lion-1, with its capabilities and discipline was tasked with filling this tall order.

 

A combination of recon and sympathetic informants within the Mosul Police Force, estimated defenders to number roughly 34,000 combined forces of police and SWAT units acting as a provisional military within the city. The situation was assumed to be similarly reflected in cities throughout Mesopotamia.

But, Quraishi understood the reality of the situation was such that despite their meagre 500-man assault, the Ghurabaa greatly outnumbered their enemies once factoring in the disgruntled Sunni masses living within the city, whom he counted on to join the JGJ cause. Despite the heavy equipment and superior ability of Lion-1, Quraishi opted for a propaganda victory to precede any significant direct engagement to draw sympathizers out as quickly as possible.

Lion-1 halted before enemy entrenched positions in the blocks surrounding the airport and seized several rooftops as bases for his mortar teams which he spread thin to deceive the already paranoid enemy forces. Mortar rounds began to blast suspected enemy positions just outside of the airport, at which Security Forces predictably resolved to hunker down for the expected main ground assault, firing their own mortars in response.

 

Meanwhile, Quraishi and a handful of his men commandeered several abandoned vehicles for a mad dash toward Mosul city center, with the remainder of Lion-1 following on foot. The small convoy of civilian cars turned the corner and found themselves facing 2 MSF tanks with guns aimed directly down the street in their direction. Quraishi reversed his car and smashed the accelerator only to crash it through a storefront, disabling his own vehicle. He exited and was greeted by several of his men who escorted him to cover behind a civilian bus. The small team readied their few RPG 's, planning a single strike on each of the tanks, but hesitated when they noticed no activity from the targets. The hatches were wide open, in fact, the positions had apparently been abandoned by Security Forces. An awestruck Quraishi ordered his men, "Take the tanks...TAKE THE TANKS!!! Alhamdulillah! Allah has granted us their tanks!" 

The men hastily spoke amongst themselves, electing 2 men with just barely enough knowledge to drive the massive vehicles, one Belgian and the other of South Asian heritage. Black flags were hoisted above the tanks by the remainder of men, including Quraishi who sat atop one of them as they rode into Mosul city Center. 

 

The hysteria overtaking the growing mass of fleeing civilians in the city center is suddenly quieted by the appearance of the 2 captured tanks down the main boulevard. Quraishi stood up on the moving vehicle as his men waved their flag at the onlookers, announcing their liberation from "Dar al-Harb" (lands ruled over by apostates). A mix of excitement and anxiety spilled over into jubilant cheers from the crowd who either supported the Ghurabaa or feared being shot by them. The sentiment of support for what they believed to be an imminent JGJ victory spread rapidly through the city, as mobs formed to harass and expel Security Forces from their established positions. It was within a matter of hours that the MSF was in a full retreat from Mosul, and Lion-1 mounted a direct assault on the Mosul International Airport while the main army of the JGJ captured one neighborhood after another against token resistance.

 

The miraculous victory made Quraishi the heroic commander of the Battle of Mosul, and a new figurehead for JGJ's online recruitment efforts.

Edited February 14, 2021 by VIIMares

[VIIMares]

Phase 3

 

Order.

 

A Ghurabaa military parade showcases the latest captured and repurposed armor and artillery in the aftermath of the capture of Mosul. The victorious mujahideen are given time to celebrate and rest briefly before preparations begin for the next operation now openly being planned for the coming days.

 

 

 

 At his debriefing, Commander Quraishi is exalted to High Command, joining JGJ leadership in their meticulous planning for the future of the organization where he is, at first, shocked at the depth and range of the discussion taking place which reached far beyond military matters. These men were already looking passed the war they had only just started.

They wanted to establish a state.

 

...

 

Abu Musa Al-Quraishi, AK-47 still slung over his shoulder, entered the Grand Mosque, the transitional base of operations for JGJ High Command. He was greeted with the sincere embrace of the infamous Ghurabaa spokesman Sheik Iklas, "Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh." To which Quraishi responded, "Waalaikumsalam Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh" as a burly man with a thick, graying beard cut in, "As I was saying. We don't want autonomy in this or that city like these small-time jihadi operations dotting the Levant already. It is our calling to establish a salafi state over all the land, run in accordance with the Prophetic Practice." Sheik Iklas directed Quraishi to a seat, "Please, listen and join in the discussions akhi. Inshallah, your input will lay the groundwork for further triumphs against the kuffar, in the cause of Allah." The group discussed the implementation of the religion in local governance, electing Sheik Iklas to head the new Shariah Council, "The holy Quran is our framework. Our constitution must be the Shariah in its pure jurisprudence." Iklas declared. A Governing Council war formed next to immediately address civil concerns and the practical rulership over Mosul as a model for future conquests. Finally, military operations were discussed, with Quraishi being elected to head the Ghurabaa fighting force. But, always thinking strategically, Quraishi moved beyond logistical planning and tactics, almost dismissing their concern entirely, "We operate in full confidence that Allah is with us. And with that being said, we have been working tirelessly at establishing networks and lines of communication with many freelance jihadi battalions mobilizing in the region, some of whom agree with us and some who do not. But all of them would be obliged to serve the Caliphate- if one were to emerge." Sheik Iklas nodding at this, asked "You're suggesting we invite these groups to create a caliphate with us?"

Quraishi turned to him and replied, "I'm suggesting we outmaneuver them. We can establish the Caliphate ourselves."

...

 

Ghurabaa jihadis now take over policing of the populace, enforcing strict interpretation of Shariah Law, correcting the common people of their ignorant ways in the observance of religion, and inflicting harsh penalties upon the criminals. 

Security Force prisoners of war were brought before local committees set up by the Shariah Council and offered the chance at a public taubah (repentance) of serving secular interests against the mujahideen, to which most eagerly obliged, even including a captured General of the MSF according to local reports.

The entire fabric of society was being "mended" by the Ghurabaa to reflect a proper Muslim state. They only needed a rightful ruler to command them all.